[Establishment and characterization of a human retinoblastoma cell line SO-Rb50].

A human retinoblastoma (Rb) continuous cell line SO-Rb 50 was first established in China from an original tumor of a Chinese baby girl who had no family history of Rb. 33 days after initial culturing, SO-Rb 50 was subcultured and transfers have been made for over 23 months. The SO-Rb 50 cells grow in suspension as clusters with ring formation; their histopathologic and ultrastructural pictures demonstrated characteristics of Rb and were positive to NSE and negative to GFAP in immunohistochemical staining. Heterotransplantation of the cells into NC athymic nude mice was successful in 1/6 of the mice.